SOI substrate and method for manufacturing SOI substrate

ABSTRACT

An SOI substrate and a manufacturing method of the SOI substrate, by which enlargement of the substrate is possible and its productivity can be increased, are provided. A step (A) of cutting a single crystal silicon substrate to form a single crystal silicon substrate which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus; a step (B) of forming an insulating layer on one surface of the single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the single crystal substrate; and a step (C) of bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and forming a single crystal silicon thin film on the substrate having an insulating surface are conducted.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an SOI (Silicon on Insulator) substrate which has a single crystal silicon thin film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface, and a method for manufacturing the SOI substrate. Further, the present invention relates to a semiconductor device formed using the SOI substrate. Note that the term “semiconductor device” in this specification includes all types of devices that can function utilizing semiconductor characteristics.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, VLSI technology has been drastically progressed, and an SOI structure by which speeding up and low power consumption are realized has been attracted attention. In this technology, an active region (a channel formation region) of a field effect transistor (FET), which has been conventionally formed of a bulk single crystal silicon, is formed of a single crystal silicon thin film. It is known that a MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) field effect transistor (MOSFET) fabricated using an SOI structure can reduce its parasitic capacitance more than a conventional one formed using a bulk single crystal silicon substrate, and such a MOSFET is advantageous for speeding up.

As a conventional SOI substrate, a SIMOX substrate, a bonded substrate and the like are known. For example, for an SOI structure of SIMOX substrate, oxygen ions are implanted into a single crystal silicon substrate, heat treatment at 1300° C. or higher is conducted to form a buried oxide (BOX) layer, so that a single crystal silicon film is formed on the surface. In the SIMOX substrate, oxygen ion implantation can be controlled precisely and thus a single crystal silicon thin film having an even thickness can be formed with high control; however, there is a problem in that long time period is needed for oxygen ion implantation to cause problems of time and costs. Further, there is another problem in that the single crystal silicon thin film is easy to be damaged in the oxygen ion implantation.

As an SOI structure of a bonded substrate, two single crystal silicon substrates (a base substrate and a bond substrate) are bonded to each other with an oxide film therebetween, and one of the two single crystal silicon substrates (the bond substrate) is thinned on its rear side (which is not a surface to be used for bonding), so that a single crystal silicon thin film is formed. As a method for thinning, there is proposed Smart-Cut (registered trademark) employing hydrogen ion implantation (e.g., Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. H5-211128), because it is difficult to form a uniform and thin single crystal silicon thin film by grinding and polishing.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

However, in conventional types of SOI substrates, an SOI structure is formed by forming a buried layer in one single crystal silicon or attaching one single crystal silicon substrate to another single crystal silicon substrate and thinning one of the single crystal silicon substrates. Therefore, such conventional types of SOI substrates depend greatly on the size of a single crystal silicon substrate, and thus have difficulty in achieving increase in size. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacture technique of an SOI substrate having a large area, and improve the productivity thereof.

An aspect of the present invention is an SOI substrate including a single crystal silicon thin film formed on a substrate having an insulating surface. The single crystal silicon thin film can be formed by a bonding method. A feature of the present invention is forming a single crystal silicon thin film on a substrate having an insulating surface, using a single crystal silicon substrate which is processed into a desired size.

A specific structure of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising a step (A) of cutting a first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus; a step (B) of forming an insulating layer on one surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an ion implantation layer in the second single crystal substrate; and a step (C) of bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the ion implantation layer, and forming a single crystal silicon thin film on the substrate having an insulating surface.

In the above structure, the ion implantation layer is formed by implantation of hydrogen ions from the insulating layer side of the second single crystal silicon substrate (i.e., from the surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate, on which the insulating layer is formed). In this specification, implantation of hydrogen ions means that hydrogen is contained in the single crystal silicon substrate by irradiation with accelerated hydrogen ions. In addition, in this specification, the ion implantation layer is a region in which fine cavities are formed and which is weakened by ion irradiation to the single crystal substrate, and thus the ion implantation layer is also referred to as an embrittlement layer. Separation occurs in the embrittlement layer in later heat treatment so that a single crystal silicon thin film can be formed on the substrate having an insulating surface.

Another structure of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising a step (A) of cutting a first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate so as to satisfy one of the following expressions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X; 0.9X<Y<1.1X; 0.99X<Y<1.01X; and 0.999X<Y<1.001X, wherein a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and a size of the second single crystal silicon substrate is Y; a step (B) of forming an insulating layer on one surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the second single crystal substrate; and a step (C) of bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and forming a single crystal silicon thin film on the substrate having an insulating surface.

In the above structures, the step (A) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and the step (B) and the step (C) are repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.

Another structure of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising a step (A) of forming an insulating layer on one surface of a first single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the first single crystal silicon substrate; a step (B) of cutting the first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus; and a step (C) of bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and forming a single crystal silicon thin film on the substrate having an insulating surface.

Another structure of the present invention is a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising a step (A) of forming an insulating layer on one surface of a first single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the first single crystal silicon substrate; a step (B) of cutting the first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate so as to satisfy one of the following expressions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X; 0.9X<Y<1.1X; 0.99X<Y<1.01X; and 0.999X<Y<1.001X, wherein a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and a size of the second single crystal silicon substrate is Y; a step (C) of bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and forming a single crystal silicon thin film on the substrate having an insulating surface.

In the above structures, the step (B) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and the step (C) is repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.

As the substrate having an insulating surface, a glass substrate is preferably used, because the use of a glass substrate enables a larger area.

A structure of the present invention is an SOI substrate having a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films formed on a substrate having an insulating surface, which is a base substrate, with an insulating layer therebetween.

A structure of the present invention is an SOI substrate having a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films formed on a substrate having an insulating surface with an insulating layer therebetween, wherein the size of one single crystal silicon thin film is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as the size of one shot of an exposure apparatus.

Another structure of the present invention is an SOI substrate having a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films formed on a substrate having an insulating surface with an insulating layer therebetween, wherein the size of one single crystal silicon thin film satisfies one of the following conditions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X, 0.9X<Y<1.1X, 0.99X<Y<1.01X and 0.999X<Y<1.001X where the size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and the size of the single crystal silicon substrate is Y.

In the above structures, the plurality of single crystal silicon thin films are preferably rectangular.

In the above structures, the substrate having an insulating surface is preferably a glass substrate.

According to the present invention, enlargement of an SOI substrate is possible. Thus, productivity in manufacturing using the SOI substrate, e.g., productivity of semiconductor devices using a semiconductor device integrated circuit and the like can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an SOI substrate structure according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3D illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an example of an SOI substrate structure according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a structure of a plasma processing apparatus;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 14A, 14B and 14C are a top view and cross-sectional views showing an example of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 15A to 15D illustrate an antenna which can be applied to a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 16A, 16B and 16C are a block diagram of an example of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention and diagrams each showing an application example of the semiconductor device;

FIGS. 17A to 17H are diagrams showing application examples of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 18A to 18E illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention; and

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate an example of a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an aspect of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment Mode

Hereinafter, Embodiment Modes will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that modes and details disclosed herein can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the description of the embodiment modes to be given below. In the structures described below, reference numerals denoting the same components are used in common in some different drawings.

Embodiment Mode 1

An SOI substrate according to the present invention is formed by being transferred from a single crystal silicon substrate (hereinafter, also referred to as a bond substrate) to a different substrate (hereinafter, a base substrate). Hereinafter, one mode of a manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to the present invention is described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an SOI substrate 100 according to the present invention. The SOI substrate 100 includes, on a surface of one substrate 150, a plurality of stacked bodies 130 in which an insulating layer 120 and a single crystal silicon thin film 110 are stacked in sequence. The single crystal silicon thin film 110 is formed on the substrate 150 with an insulating layer 120 therebetween, which is a so-called SOI structure. In other words, one SOI substrate 100 is formed from the plurality of single crystal silicon thin films 110 formed on one substrate 150. The stacked bodies 130 in which the insulating layer 120 and the single crystal silicon thin film 110 are stacked in sequence are preferably disposed with no spaces between adjacent stacked bodies 130.

The size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is preferably n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as the size of one shot of an exposure apparatus typified by a stepper. The size of one shot of an exposure apparatus depends on the apparatus, and for example, when an existing stepper is used, the sizes of one shot, such as 25 mm square, 100 mm square, 113 mm square, 132 mm square, 144 mm square and the like are known. By adopting the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 which is n times as large as the size of one shot of the exposure apparatus, a desired circuit pattern can be efficiently formed in one single crystal silicon thin film 110, when diverse types of semiconductor devices are formed using an SOI substrate to be completed. Further, a desired circuit pattern can be efficiently formed in one single crystal silicon thin film 110, without crossing a boundary with an adjacent single crystal silicon thin film. Thus, a semiconductor device can be manufactured using an SOI substrate to be completed, in high yield. Note that the term “size” means an area in this specification.

In a general manufacturing process, in consideration of yield and reliability, it is not preferable that a circuit pattern is formed up to the limit of an exposure range for one shot. In most cases, a design is made such that a circuit pattern is formed in a range which is narrower than an exposure range of one shot. Therefore, the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is not necessarily limited to the size which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as the size for one shot. For example, when the size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is Y, it is preferable that X and Y satisfy the following expression (1). Further, it is more preferable that X and Y satisfy an expression (2). It is still more preferable that X and Y an expression (3). It is most preferable that X and Y satisfy an expression (4).

0.8X<Y<1.2X  (1)

0.9X<Y<1.1X  (2)

0.99X<Y<1.01X  (3)

0.999X<Y<1.001X  (4)

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a relationship between the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 and one shot size of an exposure apparatus. In FIG. 11, a first exposure range 200, a second exposure range 202, a third exposure range 204 and a fourth exposure range 206 are each an exposure range for one shot size of an exposure apparatus.

The first exposure range 200 and the fourth exposure range 206 shows examples in which the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is n times as large as the one shot size of the exposure apparatus. Specifically, the first exposure range 200 shows an example in which the single crystal silicon thin film 110 has the same size as the one shot size, and the fourth exposure range 206 shows an example in which the single crystal silicon thin film 110 has four times as large as the one shot size. In addition, the second exposure range 202 and the third exposure range 204 show examples in which the size of the single crystal silicon thin film 110 satisfies the expressions (1) to (4). Specifically, the second exposure range 202 indicates an example in which the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is smaller than the size of one shot and X and Y satisfy any of the above expressions (1) to (4), and the third exposure range 204 shows an example in which the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is larger than the size of one shot and X and Y satisfy any of the above expressions (1) to (4). In this manner, a desired circuit pattern can be formed in one single crystal silicon thin film, so that increase in yield can be achieved.

As the substrate 150, a substrate having an insulating surface such as a glass substrate or a quartz substrate is used. A glass substrate is preferably used as the substrate 150, and a mother glass substrate having a large area can be used, such as a so-called sixth generation substrate (1500 mm×1850 mm), a so-called seventh generation substrate (1870 mm×2200 mm), and a so-called eighth generation substrate (2200 mm×2400 mm). A mother glass substrate having a large area is used as a base substrate (here, the substrate 150), and an SOI substrate is formed by applying the present invention. Thus, the area of the SOI substrate can be enlarged. For example, in the case where a semiconductor integrated circuit is formed using an SOI substrate, if the SOI substrate is made larger, a large number of chips such as IC, LSI and the like can be formed at one time, and the number of formed chips can be drastically increased, thereby increasing productivity dramatically.

Next, the manufacturing method of the SOI substrate shown in FIG. 1 is specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and FIGS. 3A to 3D.

First, a single crystal silicon substrate 102 to serve as a bond substrate is prepared (FIG. 3A). As the single crystal silicon substrate 102, a substrate which has been processed to a desired shape and size is prepared.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a single crystal silicon substrate 101 (hereinafter, also referred to as a first single crystal silicon substrate) is cut, so that the single crystal silicon substrate 102 having a desired size and shape (hereinafter, also referred to as a second single crystal silicon substrate) can be obtained. The first single crystal silicon substrate 101 used at this time may be a commercial substrate. As commercial single crystal silicon substrates, typically, substrates which are 5 inches in diameter (125 mm), 6 inches in diameter (150 mm), 8 inches in diameter (200 mm), and 12 inches in diameter (300 mm), and most of such substrates are circular. In addition, the thickness of the first single crystal silicon substrate 101 can be selected from up to about 1.5 mm as appropriate. In this embodiment mode, the thickness of the first single crystal silicon substrate 101 is set in the range of from about 0.7 mm to 0.75 mm.

The second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is preferably processed to have a size which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as one shot size of a stepper or which satisfies any of the expressions (1) to (4). For example, the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is preferably processed into a size of 25 mm square, 100 mm square, 113 mm square, 132 mm square, 144 mm square, or n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times such a numerical value.

There are no particular limitations on the shape of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102, but a rectangular shape (including a square) is preferable in consideration of being bonded later to the substrate 150 serving as a base substrate and a pattern shape which is exposed to light by an exposure apparatus. For cutting out the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 of the first single crystal silicon substrate 101, a cutting device such as a dicer or a wire saw, a device using a laser beam, a device using plasma, a device using an electron beam or an optional device for cutting can be used.

In this embodiment mode, a circular substrate having a diameter of 8 inches is used as the first single crystal silicon substrate 101, and out of the substrate, the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 which is 100 mm square is obtained by processing (FIGS. 2A and 2B). The second single crystal silicon substrate 102 serves as a bond substrate. In addition, this embodiment mode shows the example in which one piece of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 having a desired shape is obtained from one piece of the first single crystal silicon substrate 101; however, the present invention is not limited to that example. If possible, a plurality of single crystal silicon substrates having desired sizes may be taken out of one single crystal silicon substrate by processing.

Next, an insulating layer 120 is formed on a surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 (FIG. 3A).

The insulating layer 120 can be formed by a CVD method or a sputtering method, but the insulating layer 120 is preferably formed by a thermal oxidation method, so that a dense film having favorable characteristics can be obtained. When a thermal oxidation method is employed, a silicon oxide (SiO_(x)) film is formed as the insulating layer 120. In addition, when a CVD method or the like is employed, a silicon oxide (SiO_(x)) layer, a silicon nitride (SiN_(x)) layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, a silicon nitride oxide layer or the like may be formed as the insulating layer 120. The insulating layer 120 may have a single layer structure or a stacked layer structure. For example, it is also possible that after a dense silicon oxide film is formed by a thermal oxidation method, a silicon nitride layer or a silicon nitride oxide layer may be formed by a CVD method. Note that the insulating layer 120 should be formed on at least one surface of the single crystal silicon substrate 102, but may be formed on the entire surface including sides and a rear surface. In addition, the insulating layer 120 is formed to a thickness of 50 nm to 3000 nm, inclusive, preferably 50 nm to 200 nm, inclusive. In this embodiment mode, as the insulating layer 120, a silicon oxide layer having a thickness of 100 nm is formed by a thermal oxidation method.

Next, irradiation with hydrogen ions 104 is performed on the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 to form an embrittlement layer 106 (FIG. 3B). Irradiation with the hydrogen ions 104 is conducted from the side of the surface on which the insulating layer 120 is formed. By irradiation with the hydrogen ions 104 accelerated by electric field, the embrittlement layer 106 is formed at a predetermined depth (depth in a film thickness direction) of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102. Note that the embrittlement layer 106 may be formed using a noble gas, not using hydrogen, or alternatively, a mixed gas of hydrogen and a noble gas.

The embrittlement layer 106 may be formed by irradiation with ions by an ion-doping method or an ion implantation method. The ion-doping method is a method in which an ionized gas is accelerated with electric field without being subjected to mass separation, and irradiation with the ionized gas is performed on a single crystal silicon substrate. The ion-doping method may be conducted with an ion-doping apparatus. In addition, the ion implantation method is a method in which a gas ionized with an ion implantation apparatus is subjected to mass separation and irradiation with the ionized gas is performed on a single crystal silicon substrate. By the ion-implantation method, ionized hydrogen gas is subjected to mass separation and accelerated by electric field, so that the ionized gas can be irradiated.

Irradiation with the hydrogen ions 104 is preferably conducted under conditions of dosage of from 1×10¹⁶ atoms/cm² to 1×10¹⁷ atoms/cm², and an accelerating voltage of from 20 kV to 200 kV. Note that the dosage, the accelerating voltage and the like of the hydrogen ions 104 for irradiation are selected suitably so that the thickness in depth direction of the embrittlement layer 106 formed in the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 can be controlled. In the second single crystal silicon substrate 102, the thickness in depth direction in which the embrittlement layer 106 is to be formed determines the thickness of the single crystal silicon thin film of an SOI substrate to be completed. Therefore, by appropriate selection of irradiation conditions of the hydrogen ions 104, the thickness of the single crystal silicon thin film of the SOI substrate can be controlled. By irradiation with the hydrogen ions 104 through the insulating layer 120, the depth of the embrittlement layer 106 is easy to be controlled and further, roughness of the surface of the silicon substrate due to the ion irradiation can be prevented. In this embodiment mode, irradiation with the hydrogen ions 104 is conducted at a dosage of 5×10¹⁶ atoms/cm² and an accelerating voltage of 100 kV.

Next, the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 serving as a bond substrate and the substrate 150 serving as a base substrate are bonded to each other (FIG. 3C). The second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are bonded to each other with the insulating layer 120 formed on the second single crystal silicon substrate 102, between the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150.

As the substrate 150 serving as a base substrate, a substrate having an insulating surface such as a glass substrate or a quartz substrate as described above is used. A glass substrate is preferable, since the glass substrate can achieve a larger area at low cost.

An insulating layer may be formed on a surface of the substrate 150 as a base insulating layer. Specifically, an insulating layer is formed on the surface of the substrate 150, onto which the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is bonded. For example, an insulating layer with a single layer or a stacked layer may be formed on the surface of the substrate 150, using silicon nitride oxide, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride or the like, by a CVD method or a sputtering method. By forming the insulating layer serving as a base insulating layer on the surface of the substrate 150, diffusion of impurities such as alkali metals from the substrate 150 can be prevented. For example, as the base insulating layer, a silicon nitride layer or a silicon nitride oxide layer is used for a bottom layer, and a silicon oxide layer or a silicon oxynitride layer is used for a top layer to form a stack layer structure, which can increase the effect of blocking impurities more.

Bonding (also referred to as wafer bonding) of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are conducted at a processing temperature which is set in consideration of heat resistance of both substrates. When a glass substrate is used for the substrate 150 serving as a base substrate, a processing temperature of about 600° C. or lower should be adopted for the process.

For example, by processing using irradiation of atom beams or ion beams, or plasma treatment or radical treatment, the substrates can be bonded to each other at a low temperature process of from 200 to 400° C.

When atom beams or ion beams are used, a neutral atomic beam of an inert gas such as argon or an ion beam of an inert gas can be used. Note that irradiation of atomic beams or ion beams is preferably conducted in vacuum or under reduced pressure.

For example, the surface to be bonded of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 (hereinafter, also referred to as a bonding surface) is subjected to irradiation of argon ion beams, so that the bonding surface is activated. Note that bonding of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 is conducted with the insulating layer 120 therebetween, and thus the surface of the insulating layer 120 serves as a bonding surface. By the irradiation of argon ion beams, the surface of the insulating layer 120, which serves as a bonding surface, is activated. Similarly, the bonding surface of the substrate 150 is subjected to irradiation of argon ion beams, so that the bonding surface is activated. In addition, in the case where an insulating layer serving as a base insulating layer is formed on the surface of the substrate 150 and bonded to the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 with the insulating layer therebetween, irradiation of argon ion beams is conducted to the surface of the insulating layer serving as a base insulating layer, so that the surface is activated. In order to activate the bonding surface, argon ion beams having energy of from 20 eV to 200 eV is preferably used for the irradiation. The irradiation of argon ion beams is preferably conducted under pressure of the order of 10⁻⁶ Pa.

Next, the activated bonding surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the activated bonding surface of the substrate 150 are made in contact with each other and are superposed. The bonding surfaces of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are activated, and thus bonding at least due to activation of the surfaces occurs, so that both the substrates are bonded to each other.

In addition, when plasma treatment or radical treatment is used, specifically, oxygen plasma, an oxygen radical, nitrogen plasma, or a nitrogen radical can be used.

For example, the bonding surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is subjected to oxygen plasma irradiation, so that the bonding surface is activated (becomes hydrophilic). In addition, the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are bonded with the insulating layer 120 therebetween, so that the surface of the insulating layer 120 serves as the bonding surface. Thus, the surface of the insulating layer 120 serving as the bonding surface is made hydrophilic by the oxygen plasma treatment. Similarly, the bonding surface of the substrate 150 is subjected to oxygen plasma irradiation so as to have a hydrophilic property. In addition, when an insulating layer serving as a base insulating layer is formed on the surface of the substrate 150, and the substrate 150 is bonded to the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, the surface of the insulating layer serving as a base insulating layer is subjected to oxygen plasma treatment so as to have a hydrophilic property. When or after the bonding surface is made hydrophilic, a gas containing hydrogen ions, a hydroxyl group, water molecule, or the like may be mixed. Such a gas is mixed in the hydrophilic process, and thus it is possible that an OH group in the bonding surface is increased to make the bonding surface hydrophilic evenly, or to increase the speed of becoming hydrophilic. In addition, after impurities in the bonding surface are removed by argon plasma irradiation, the oxygen plasma treatment can be conducted to make the bonding surface hydrophilic evenly. Further, after making the bonding surface hydrophilic, the bonding surface may be washed with pure water, water added with hydrogen, water with oxygen or water added with ozone, and dried.

Preferably, after the bonding surface is washed by ultrasonic wave or megasonic wave, to remove particles such as micro dusts attached to the bonding surface, the bonding surface is subjected to surface activation treatment utilizing atomic beams or ion beams, or hydrophilic treatment utilizing plasma treatment or radical treatment. In addition, before bonding, the hydrophilic property is preferably increased by washing with water added with ozone.

Next, the hydrophilic bonding surface of second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the hydrophilic bonding surface of the substrate 150 are made to be in contact with each other and are superposed. The bonding surfaces of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are made hydrophilic, and both are bonded to each other at least due to force among molecules (hydrogen bonding).

After the bonding surfaces are made hydrophilic by oxygen plasma treatment, the bonding surfaces may be irradiated with nitrogen radicals. Irradiation with nitrogen radicals changes an OH group produced in the hydrophilic bonding surface into an ON group by nitrogen substitution. After that, the bonding surfaces are made in contact with each other and superposed, so that a nitrogen compound is formed at the interface between the bonding surfaces. As a result, the bonding surfaces are bonded to each other more firmly.

In addition, after the bond substrate and the base substrate are made in contact and bonded to each other by using atomic beams or plasma, heat treatment or pressuring treatment, or both of the heat treatment and the pressuring treatment is/are preferably conducted. By the heat treatment and/or pressuring treatment, the bonding strength between the substrates is increased, so that the substrates can be bonded more firmly. The temperature for heat treatment is set to a temperature below the temperature limit of both the substrates, and the pressure for pressuring treatment is set in consideration of resistance to pressure of the substrates. In addition, the pressuring treatment is preferably conducted in the direction perpendicular to the bonding surface. For example, after the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 and the substrate 150 are bonded to each other by using atomic beams or ion beams, or utilizing plasma treatment or radical treatment as described above, heat treatment is conducted at temperatures below 400° C., preferably from 200° C. to 400° C.

Next, a single crystal silicon layer 108 which is a part of the second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is separated. The single crystal silicon thin film 110 is left on the substrate 150, with the insulating layer 120 between the substrate 150 and the single crystal silicon thin film 110, so that an SOI structure is obtained (FIG. 3D).

The second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is subjected to heat treatment, so that separation occurs at the embrittlement layer 106. Specifically, heat treatment is conducted at temperatures of 400° C. or higher, preferably from 500 to 600° C., so that volume change of minute cavities formed in the embrittlement layer 106 occurs, and a broken face is produced along the embrittlement layer 106 for separation. The second single crystal silicon substrate 102 is separated along the embrittlement layer 106, so that the single crystal silicon layer 108 is separated. As a result, the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is formed on the substrate 150 with the insulating layer 120 therebetween. Here, the structure in which the insulating layer 120 and the single crystal silicon thin film 110 are stacked in sequence over the substrate 150 is referred to as the stacked body 130.

In this manner described above, an SOI structure is obtained in which the single crystal silicon thin film 110 is formed on the substrate 150 with the insulating layer 120 therebetween. It should be noted that one feature of the present invention is that a plurality of stacked bodies formed using the single crystal silicon thin films are formed on one base substrate with the insulating layers therebetween, to form an SOI substrate. For example, by repeating steps illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the plurality of stacked bodies 130 are disposed closely on the substrate 150 as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, so that the SOI substrate 100 can be manufactured.

After bonding is conducted as illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, instead of conducting the step of separation by heat treatment, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the next single crystal silicon substrate is bonded, and bonding of all single crystal silicon substrates are completed and separation of the all single crystal silicon substrates may be conducted together by heat treatment. In this manner, the process can be simplified.

The stacked bodies 130 (single crystal silicon thin films 110) are preferably disposed closely on the substrate 150. More preferably, the stacked bodies 130 are disposed without no spaces between adjacent stacked bodies. For example, the use of a control device such as a CCD camera or a computer makes it possible to dispose the plurality of stacked bodies with high accuracy. Further, position alignment using a marker formed on the substrate 150 or the stacked bodies 130 (single crystal silicon thin films 110) may be done.

In this manner, the SOI substrate 100 can be obtained. The SOI substrate in accordance with the present invention can realize enlargement, and increase yield in manufacturing process of semiconductor devices or the like.

The surface of the single crystal silicon thin films obtained by the separation are each preferably polished to be planarized by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). In addition, instead of using a physical polishing means such as CMP, the surface of the single crystal silicon thin film may be planarized by laser irradiation. Note that the laser irradiation is preferably conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 10 ppm or lower. This is because laser irradiation under an oxygen atmosphere may make the surface of the single crystal silicon thin film rough. Further, CMP or the like may be conducted for the sake of thinning the obtained single crystal silicon thin film.

By using the thus formed SOI substrate, a semiconductor integrated circuit and the like can be manufactured. After a desired circuit pattern is formed in the SOI substrate, the SOI substrate may be sectioned for each chip as appropriate.

FIGS. 2A to 3D show an example in which the single crystal silicon substrate is cut into a desired shape and then the single crystal silicon substrate having a desired shape is subjected to irradiation with hydrogen ions to form an embrittlement layer. However, it is also possible that after a single crystal silicon substrate is subjected to irradiation with hydrogen ions to form an embrittlement layer, the single crystal silicon substrate can be cut into a desired shape.

Specifically, irradiation with hydrogen ions is performed on a single crystal silicon substrate serving as a mother substrate as illustrated in FIG. 2A, to form an embrittlement layer. Then, the single crystal silicon substrate in which the embrittlement layer has been formed is sectioned and processed into a size which is n times as large as one shot size of a stepper apparatus, or so as to satisfy any of the conditions of the above expressions (1) to (4). The following steps may be similar to those illustrated in FIG. 3C and drawings following FIG. 3C.

By applying the present invention, an SOI substrate having a large area can be manufactured and provided. Thus, in forming a circuit pattern for a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like, a large area substrate can be used in a manufacturing process at one time, so that productivity can be increased.

In addition, an SOI substrate is formed from a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films. The size of each single crystal silicon substrate is set to about an integral multiple of one shot size of an exposure apparatus, and yield in manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like can be increased.

This embodiment mode can be freely combined with any of the other embodiment modes in this specification.

Embodiment Mode 2

Embodiment Mode 2 will describe one mode in which the SOI substrate manufactured in Embodiment Mode 1 is used to form a semiconductor integrated circuit. Here, an example of forming a CMOS circuit is shown. Note that the semiconductor integrated circuit according to the present invention is not limited to a simple circuit, and can be used to realize a wide variety of integrated circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU).

An example of a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device according to this embodiment mode will now be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 10B.

First, an SOI substrate is prepared. In this embodiment mode, the SOI substrate manufactured in Embodiment Mode 1 is used. Specifically, a substrate is used, in which a single crystal silicon thin film is formed on a substrate 800 having an insulating surface with an insulating layer 802 and an insulating layer 804 therebetween. Note that a stacked structure in which two insulating layers (insulating layers 802 and 804) are formed between the substrate 800 and the single crystal silicon thin film is shown as an example. The insulating layer 802 and the insulating layer 804 may have a stacked structure in which insulating layers are formed on the surface of the single crystal silicon substrate serving as a bond substrate, or a stacked structure in which an insulating layer formed on the surface of the bond substrate and a base insulating layer formed on the surface of a base substrate are stacked.

In addition, the single crystal silicon thin films constituting a part of the SOI substrate are formed from the plurality of single crystal silicon thin films which are each n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as one shot size of a stepper exposure apparatus. In this embodiment mode, an example is described in which a CMOS circuit is formed using one of the single crystal silicon thin films (in other words, one single crystal silicon thin film having a size which is n times as large as one shot size of a stepper exposure apparatus).

The single crystal silicon thin film is selectively etched to form a first single crystal silicon layer 806 and a second single crystal silicon layer 808. Then gate electrodes 816 are formed over the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 with a gate insulating layer 810 therebetween (FIGS. 6A and 6B).

The first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are selectively etched to be processed into desired shapes. At this time, the layers are processed into island shapes and isolated. In a case where the thicknesses of the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are desired to be smaller than that of the single crystal silicon thin film of the prepared SOI substrate, the single crystal silicon thin film may be selectively etched to be thinner. In addition, the single crystal silicon thin film may be partially changed in its quality (quality change) and the changed portion may be selectively etched to be thinner. Quality change of the single crystal silicon thin film indicates oxidation treatment, nitriding treatment or the like. In addition, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 may be formed such that the end portions thereof are either near-perpendicularly tapered or gently tapered by appropriate selection of etching conditions or the like. For example, the end portions may be tapered at a taper angle of 45° or more and less than 95°, and preferably 60° or more and less than 95°, or may be gently tapered at a taper angle of less than 45°.

In this embodiment mode, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 each have a thickness of 30 nm.

Note that in order to control a threshold voltage of a transistor to be completed, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 may be lightly doped with an impurity element imparting one conductivity. In this case, the impurity element is added to a channel forming region of the transistor, as well. The impurity element added at this time is added at a lower concentration than that of a high concentration impurity region serving as a source region or a drain region and that of a low concentration impurity region serving as a lightly-doped drain (LDD) region.

The gate electrodes 816 are formed by entirely forming a conductive layer over the substrate and selectively etching the conductive layer to form a desired shape. Here, as the gate electrodes 816, after stacked structures in which conductive layers 812 and 814 are stacked are formed, the conductive layers are selectively etched and the isolated conductive layers are processed to cross the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808, respectively. In this case, the conductive layers are processed to be unified in regions in which the conductive layers are not superposed with the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808. In other words, the conductive layers constituting the gate electrodes 816 have a branching shape, and the branched portions of the conductive layers cross the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 respectively.

The conductive layers forming the gate electrode 816 can each be formed as follows: a conductive layer is formed entirely over the substrate by using a metal element such as tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), or niobium (Nb), or an alloy material or a compound material containing the above-described metal element by a CVD method or a sputtering method, and then the conductive layer is selectively etched. Further, a semiconductor material typified by polycrystalline silicon to which an impurity element which provides one conductivity type, such as phosphorus has been added can be used as well.

Although this embodiment mode shows the example in which the gate electrodes 816 have a two-layer stacked structure of the conductive layers 812 and 814, the gate electrodes may have a single layer structure or a stacked layer structure in which three layer or more layers are stacked. In addition, the side face of the conductive layers may be tapered. In the case where the gate electrodes have a stacked structure of conductive layers, the width of the conductive layer as the bottom layer may be larger or the side face of the conductive layers may have different taper angles from each other.

The gate insulating layers 810 are formed between the gate electrode 816, and the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808. The gate insulating layers 810 can be formed using a material such as silicon oxide (SiO_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiO_(x)N_(y), x>y>0), hafnium oxide (HfO_(x)), aluminum oxide (Al_(x)O_(y)), or tantalum oxide (Ta_(x)O_(y), x>y>0) by a CVD method, a sputtering method, an ALD (atomic layer deposition) method or the like. Further, the gate insulating layers 810 can be formed by conducting plasma treatment to the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 such that they are solid-phase oxidized or solid-phase nitrided. Additionally, an insulating layer may be formed by a CVD method or the like and the insulating layer may be solid-phase oxidized or solid-phase nitrided by plasma treatment.

The solid-phase oxidation or the solid-phase nitridation is preferably conducted using plasma excited by high frequency such as a microwave (typically, 2.45 GHz). Specifically, plasma which is excited by high-frequency waves and has an electron density of from 1×10¹¹ to 1×10¹³ cm⁻³, inclusive, and electron temperatures of from 0.5 to 1.5 eV, inclusive, is preferably used for plasma treatment. This is done so that in the solid phase oxidation treatment or solid phase nitridation treatment at temperatures of less than or equal to 500° C., a dense insulating layer is to be formed and a practical reaction speed is to be obtained.

When the surfaces of the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are oxidized by plasma treatment, the plasma treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing oxygen (e.g., an atmosphere containing oxygen (O₂), ozone (O₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrogen monoxide (NO), or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and a rare gas (at least one of helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), and xenon (Xe)), or an atmosphere containing oxygen (O₂), ozone (O₃), nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrogen monoxide (NO), or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), hydrogen (H₂), and a rare gas). Further, when the surface of the insulating layer formed over the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 is nitrided by plasma treatment, the plasma treatment is performed in an atmosphere containing nitrogen (e.g., an atmosphere containing nitrogen (N₂) and a rare gas (at least one of He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe), an atmosphere containing nitrogen, hydrogen, and a rare gas, or an atmosphere containing NH₃ and a rare gas). As the rare gas, Ar is preferably used, for example. Further, a gas in which Ar and Kr are mixed may also be used.

FIG. 12 shows a structural example of a plasma processing apparatus 1080 for performing plasma treatment. The plasma processing apparatus 1080 includes a support 1088, a gas supplying portion 1084 for supplying a gas, an exhaust port 1086 connected to a vacuum pump for exhausting a gas, an antenna 1098, a dielectric plate 1082, and a high-frequency wave supplying portion 1092 for supplying high-frequency waves for plasma generation. An object to be processed 1010 is held by the support 1088. In addition, by providing a temperature controller 1090 for the support 1088, the temperature of the object to be processed 1010 can be controlled. The object to be processed 1010 is a body which is subjected to plasma treatment, and corresponds to a stacked body in which the insulating layers 802 and 804 and the first and second single crystal silicon layers 806 and 808 are stacked over the substrate 800 serving as a base substrate in this embodiment mode. Further, the object to be processed 1010 corresponds to a stacked body in which the insulating layers 802 and 804, the first and second single crystal silicon layers 806 and 808, an insulating layer are formed over the substrate 800.

Hereinafter, a specific example in which an insulating layer is formed on the surface of the single crystal silicon layer with the plasma processing apparatus 1080 shown in FIG. 12 is described. Note that the plasma treatment includes surface modification treatment, such as oxidation treatment, nitridation treatment, oxynitridation treatment, and hydrogenation treatment, performed to a substrate, a semiconductor layer (a single crystal silicon layer), an insulating layer, and a conductive layer. For these treatments, a gas supplied from the gas supplying portion 1084 may be selected in accordance with an intended purpose.

First, the inside of a processing chamber of the plasma processing apparatus 1080 shown in FIG. 12 is made in vacuum and a gas containing a rare gas and oxygen or nitrogen is supplied from the gas supplying portion 1084. The object to be processed 1010 is heated at room temperature or at temperatures of from 100 to 550° C., inclusive, by the temperature controller 1090. The distance between the object to be processed 1010 and the dielectric plate 1082 (hereinafter also referred to as an electrode interval) is approximately from 20 to 200 mm, inclusive (preferably from 20 to 60 mm, inclusive).

Next, high-frequency waves are supplied from the high-frequency wave supplying portion 1092 to the antenna 1098. Here, microwaves (frequency: 2.45 GHz) are introduced as the high-frequency waves. Then, the microwaves are introduced from the antenna 1098 into the processing chamber through the dielectric plate 1082; thus, plasma 1094 is generated. With the plasma 1094, oxygen radicals (which may include an OH radical) or nitrogen radicals (which may include an NH radical) are generated. At this time, the plasma 1094 is generated from the gas supplied.

When the plasma 1094 is generated by introducing high-frequency waves such as microwaves, plasma which has the low electron temperature (less than or equal to 3 eV, preferably less than or equal to 1.5 eV) and the high electron density (greater than or equal to 1×10¹¹ cm⁻³) can be generated. Specifically, plasma which has electron temperatures of from 0.5 to 1.5 eV, inclusive, and an electron density of from 1×10¹¹ to 1×10¹³ cm⁻³, inclusive, is preferably generated. Note that in this specification, plasma having a low electron temperature and a high electron density which is generated by introducing microwaves is also called high-density plasma. Further, plasma treatment utilizing high-density plasma is also called high-density plasma treatment.

With the oxygen radicals (which may include an OH radical) or nitrogen radicals (which may include an NH radical) generated by the plasma 1094, the surface of the single crystal silicon layer formed in the object to be processed 1010 is oxidized or nitrided, whereby an insulating layer is formed. Alternatively, the surface of the insulating layer formed on the single crystal silicon layer or the vicinity of the surface is oxidized or nitrided. In this case, if the rare gas such as argon is mixed in the gas supplied, oxygen radicals or nitrogen radicals can be generated efficiently by excited species of the rare gas. Note that in the case where the rare gas is used in the gas supplied, the rare gas may be contained in the insulating layer formed. In this method, by effective use of active radicals excited by plasma, oxidation or nitridation by a solid phase reaction can be performed at low temperatures of less than or equal to 500° C.

As one preferable example of the gate insulating layer 810 formed by plasma treatment in this embodiment mode, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are subjected to plasma treatment in an atmosphere containing oxygen to form a silicon oxide layer, and the surface of the silicon oxide layer is treated with nitridation plasma in an atmosphere containing nitrogen to form a nitrogen-plasma-treated layer. Specifically, first, the silicon oxide layer having a thickness of from 3 to 6 nm is formed over the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 by plasma treatment in an atmosphere containing oxygen. Then continuously, the plasma treatment in an atmosphere containing nitrogen is performed, whereby the nitrogen-plasma-treated layer with a high nitrogen concentration is provided on the one surface of the silicon oxide layer or in the vicinity of the surface. Note that the “vicinity of the surface” refers to a region at a depth of approximately from 0.25 to 1.5 nm from the surface of the silicon oxide layer. For example, by performing the plasma treatment in an atmosphere containing nitrogen after forming the silicon oxide layer, the nitrogen-plasma-treated layer in which nitrogen is contained at 20 to 50 at. % in a region of the silicon oxide layer at a depth of approximately 1 nm from the surface thereof in a perpendicular direction can be formed. Further, the nitrogen-plasma-treated layer can be silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide depending on the conditions of the plasma treatment.

In any case, by the solid phase oxidation treatment or solid phase nitridation treatment with plasma treatment as described above, even if a glass substrate with an upper temperature limit of less than or equal to 700° C. is used as the base substrate (the substrate 800), an insulating layer which is equivalent to a thermally-oxidized film which is formed at temperatures of 950 to 1050° C. can be obtained. That is, a highly reliable insulating layer can be formed as the insulating layer that serves as a gate insulating layer in a semiconductor element, in particular, a thin film transistor or a nonvolatile memory element.

Note that FIG. 6B illustrates an example in which the end portions of the gate insulating layer 810 and the gate electrode 816 are aligned; however, this is not a limiting example, and the gate insulating layer 810 may be left when the gate electrode 816 is etched.

If a material with a high dielectric constant (also referred to as a high-k material) is used for the gate insulating layer 810, the gate electrodes 816 are formed from polycrystalline silicon, silicide, metal or metal nitride. Preferably, the gate electrodes 816 are formed from metal or metal nitride. For example, the conductive layers 812 in contact with the gate insulating layers 810 are formed from a metal nitride material, and the conductive layers 814 thereon are formed from a metal material. By adopting the combination like this, even when the gate insulating layer is thinned, a depletion layer can be prevented from expanding and even when miniaturization is done, operation characteristics such as driving performance of transistors can be prevented from being damaged.

Next, an insulating layer 817 is formed over the gate electrodes 816. Then, an impurity element imparting one type of conductivity is added using the gate electrodes 816 as masks. Note that in this embodiment mode, in order to manufacture a CMOS circuit, impurity elements having different types of conductivities are added to the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808. In the first single crystal silicon layer 806, a pair of impurity regions 831 and a channel forming region 830 between the pair of impurity regions 831 are formed using the gate electrode 816 as a mask in a self-aligned manner. Similarly, in the second single crystal silicon layer 808, a pair of impurity regions 841 and a channel forming region 840 between the pair of impurity regions 841 are formed using the gate electrode 816 as a mask in a self-aligned manner. The impurity region 831 and the impurity region 841 are added with impurity elements which each have a different conductivity type from each other (FIGS. 7A and 7B).

As the impurity element which imparts one conductivity type, an element which imparts p-type conductivity such as boron (B), aluminum (Al), or gallium (Ga) or an element which imparts n-type conductivity such as phosphorus (P) or arsenic (As) can be used. In this embodiment mode, an element imparting n-type conductivity, e.g., phosphorus is added to the first single crystal silicon layer 806. In addition, an element imparting p-type conductivity, e.g., boron is added to the second single crystal silicon layer 808. When the impurity element is added to the first single crystal silicon layer 806, the second single crystal silicon layer 808 may be selectively covered with a resist mask or the like. Similarly, when the impurity element is added to the second single crystal silicon layer 808, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 may be selectively covered with a resist mask or the like.

The insulating layer 817 can be formed using a material such as silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride, or silicon nitride oxide by a CVD method, a sputtering method, an ALD method or the like. In addition of an impurity element having one conductivity type, the impurity element is made to pass through the insulating layer 817, so that damages on the single crystal silicon layers can be reduced.

Next, sidewall insulating layers 820 are formed on the sides of the gate electrodes 816. The gate electrodes 816 and the sidewall insulating layer 820 are used as masks to add the impurity element imparting one conductivity type. Note that the impurity elements having the same conductivity as those used in the previous step (the step of forming the impurity region 831 and the impurity region 841) are added to the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808. The impurity elements added at this time are added at higher concentration than those of the impurity elements used in the previous step (FIGS. 8A and 8B).

In the first single crystal silicon layer 806, a pair of high concentration impurity regions 834 and a pair of low concentration impurity regions 832 are formed in a self-aligned manner with the gate electrode 816 and the sidewall insulating layer 820 as a mask. The high concentration impurity region 834 formed at this time serves as a source region or a drain region, and the low concentration impurity region 832 serves as an LDD (lightly doped drain) region. Similarly, in the second single crystal silicon layer 808, a pair of high concentration impurity regions 844 and a pair of low concentration impurity regions 842 are formed in a self-aligned manner with the gate electrode 816 and the sidewall insulating layer 820 as a mask. Note that when the impurity element is added to the first single crystal silicon layer 806, the second single crystal silicon layer 808 may be selectively covered with a resist mask or the like. Similarly, when the impurity element is added to the second single crystal silicon layer 808, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 may be selectively covered with a resist mask or the like.

The sidewall insulating layer 820 is formed on the side face of the gate electrodes 816 with the insulating layer 817 therebetween. For example, an insulating layer formed so as to bury the gate electrodes 816 is subjected to anisotropic etching, which is conducted mainly in the perpendicular direction, so that the sidewall insulating layer 820 can be formed in a self-aligned manner on the side faces of the gate electrodes 816. The sidewall insulating layer 820 can be formed using a material such as silicon nitride, silicon nitride oxide, silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride. In a case where the insulating layer 817 is formed using silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride, the sidewall insulating layer 820 is formed using silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide, so that the insulating layer 817 can function as an etching stopper. In addition, when the insulating layer 817 is formed using silicon nitride or silicon nitride oxide, the sidewall insulating layer 820 may be formed using silicon oxide or silicon oxynitride. In this manner, the insulating layer functioning as an etching stopper is provided, so that the single crystal silicon layers can be prevented from being etched in over-etching for forming the sidewall insulating layer.

Next, an exposed part of the insulating layer 817 is etched. Parts of the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are made silicide (FIGS. 9A and 9B).

The insulating layer 817 is left between the sidewall insulating layer 820 and the gate electrode 816, between the sidewall insulating layer 820 and the first single crystal silicon layer 806, and between the sidewall insulating layer 820 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808. Thus, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are exposed in regions in which the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are not overlapped with sidewall insulating layer 820 and the gate electrodes 816. In this case, the high concentration impurity region 834 formed in the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the high concentration impurity region 844 formed in the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are exposed.

Formation of silicide can be done by making the single crystal silicon layers be in contact with metal. For example, a metal layer is formed on the exposed first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the exposed second single crystal silicon layer 808, and is subjected to heat treatment to be silicided. The metal layer can be formed using a material that can be silicided by reaction with silicon, e.g., a metal element such as nickel, titanium, cobalt, platinum or the like, or an alloy material including any of the above elements, by a sputtering method, an evaporation method, a coating method or the like. When such metal elements are used, nickel silicide, titanium silicide, cobalt silicide, or platinum silicide is formed. The shape, film thickness and the like of the region to be silicide can be adjusted by appropriate control of the film thickness of the metal layer to be reacted, the temperature, time or the like of heat treatment. FIG. 9B illustrates an example in which a silicide region 835 and a silicide region 845 are provided on the top layer of the high concentration impurity region 834 formed in the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and on the top layer of the high concentration impurity region 844 formed in the second single crystal silicon layer 808, respectively. Note that the present invention is not limited to this example, and may have a structure in which formation of silicide is not conducted, or a structure in which the whole high concentration impurity regions formed in the single crystal silicon layers are silicided. Further, the low concentration impurity region may also be made silicide. Note that after formation of silicide, if an unreacted metal is left, the left metal is removed by wet etching or dry etching as necessary.

Through these steps, a transistor 850 and a transistor 860 are formed. In FIG. 9B, an n-channel transistor is formed as the transistor 850 and a p-channel transistor is formed as the transistor 860.

Next, an insulating layer 870 is formed over the transistor 850 and the transistor 860. Then, the insulating layer 870 is selectively etched to form openings which reach the high concentration impurity region 834 formed in the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the high concentration impurity region 844 formed in the second single crystal silicon layer 808. A conductive layer 872 serving as a source electrode or a drain electrode is formed so as to fill the openings (FIGS. 10A and 10B).

The insulating layer 870 is formed using an inorganic insulating material containing oxygen and/or nitrogen, such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or silicon nitride oxide; an insulating material containing carbon such as diamond like carbon (DLC); an organic insulating material such as epoxy, polyimide, polyamide, polyvinylphenol, benzocyclobutene or acrylic; or a siloxane material such as siloxane resin by a CVD method, a sputtering method, an ALD method, a coating method or the like. Note that the siloxane material corresponds to a material having Si—O—Si bonds. Siloxane includes a skeleton structure of a bond of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O). As a substituent, an organic group containing at least hydrogen (such as an alkyl group or aromatic hydrocarbon) is used. Alternatively, a fluoro group, or a fluoro group and an organic group containing at least hydrogen can be used as a substituent. Further, the insulating layer 870 may also be formed by forming an insulating layer by a CVD method, a sputtering method, or an ALD method and then performing high-density plasma treatment thereto in an oxygen atmosphere or a nitrogen atmosphere. Although the insulating layer 870 has a single layer structure in this embodiment mode as an example, the insulating layer 870 may have a staked layer structure of two or more layers. An inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer may be combined to form the insulating layer 870. For example, a silicon nitride layer or a silicon nitride oxide layer which can function as a passivation layer is formed over the transistor 850 and the transistor 860, and an insulating layer including phosphorus silicate glass (PSG) or boron phosphorus silicate glass (BPSG), which can serve as a planarization layer, can be formed thereon.

The conductive layer 872 serving as a source electrode or a drain electrode is electrically connected to the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 through the openings formed in the insulating layer 870. In addition, the first single crystal silicon layer 806 and the second single crystal silicon layer 808 are electrically connected to each other by the conductive layer 872, such that a CMOS circuit is formed. FIG. 9B illustrates an example in which the top layer of the high concentration impurity region is made silicide, and the conductive layer 872 is electrically connected to the silicide regions 835 and 845. Thus, resistance of contact between the conductive layer 872 serving as a source electrode or a drain electrode and the high concentration impurity region 834 or 844 serving as a source region or drain region can be reduced.

The conductive layer 872 can be formed by steps of forming a conductive layer as a single layer or a stacked layer by a CVD method or a sputtering method using a metal element such as aluminum (Al), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), copper (Cu), gold (Au), silver (Ag), manganese (Mn), neodymium (Nd), carbon (C), or silicon (Si), or an alloy material or a compound material containing the above-described metal element over the entire surface of the substrate, and then selectively etching the conductive layer. As examples of an alloy material containing aluminum, an alloy material containing aluminum as its main component and nickel, and an alloy material containing aluminum as its main component, nickel, and one or both of carbon and silicon can be given. Further, a compound material containing tungsten, tungsten silicide can be given as an example. The conductive layer 872 can employ, for example, a stacked-layer structure of a barrier layer, an aluminum-silicon layer, and a barrier layer, or a stacked-layer structure of a barrier layer, an aluminum-silicon layer, a titanium nitride layer, and a barrier layer. Note that a barrier layer corresponds to a thin film formed of titanium, nitride of titanium, molybdenum, or nitride of molybdenum. Aluminum and aluminum silicon which have low resistance and are inexpensive are suitable for forming the conductive layer serving as a source electrode or a drain electrode. Further, generation of a hillock of aluminum or aluminum silicon can be prevented when upper and lower barrier layers are provided in the conductive layer serving as a source electrode or a drain electrode.

Through these steps, a CMOS circuit can be formed in which transistors having different conductivity types from each other are electrically connected to each other.

In accordance with this embodiment mode, the use of an SOI substrate according to the present invention makes it possible to adopt a large substrate for a manufacturing process. Therefore, semiconductor devices such as a semiconductor integrated circuit and the like can be manufactured with high productivity.

This embodiment mode can be freely combined with any of the other embodiment modes in this specification.

Embodiment Mode 3

Embodiment Mode 3 will describe one mode in which the SOI substrate manufactured in Embodiment Mode 1 is used to form a semiconductor device having a different structure from that of Embodiment Mode 2. Specifically, a semiconductor device in which an insulating layer is buried between semiconductor layers (single crystal silicon layers) as an element isolation structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 18A to 19B.

In FIG. 18A, an insulating layer 12 a and an insulating layer 12 b serving as base insulating layers (hereinafter, the insulating layer 12 a and the insulating layer 12 b are also collectively referred to as a base insulating layer 12) are formed over a substrate 10. The insulating layer 12 a is formed on the substrate 10 side, and the insulating layer 12 b is formed on a single crystal silicon layer 14 side. The insulating layer 12 a and the insulating layer 12 b are bonded to each other, so that the single crystal silicon layer 14 and the substrate 10 are fixed. Bonding the single crystal silicon layer 14 to the substrate 10 is done in a similar method to that of Embodiment Mode 1.

A silicon nitride layer 11 and a silicon oxide layer 13 are formed in each element formation region over the single crystal silicon layer 14. The oxide silicon layer 13 is used as a hard mask in etching the single crystal silicon layer 14 for element isolation. The silicon nitride layer 11 serves as an etching stopper.

The single crystal silicon layer 14 is preferably from 5 nm to 30 nm thick, preferably from 10 nm to 25 nm thick. In order to control a threshold voltage, a p-type impurity element such as boron, aluminum or gallium is added to the single crystal silicon layer 14. For example, boron as a p-type impurity element may be added at a concentration within the range of from 5×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to 1×10¹⁸ cm⁻³ inclusive.

FIG. 18B illustrates a step of etching the single crystal silicon layer 14 and the base insulating layer 12 using the silicon oxide layer 13 as a mask. The exposed side faces of the silicon oxide layer 13, the silicon nitride layer 11, the single crystal silicon layer 14 and the base insulating layer 12 are nitrided by plasma treatment. By this nitridation treatment, a nitriding-treatment layer 15 is formed in the peripheral end portion of the silicon oxide layer 13, the silicon nitride layer 11, the single crystal silicon layer 14 and the base insulating layer 12. In addition, a silicon nitride layer is formed at least in the peripheral end portion of the single crystal silicon layer 14 as the nitriding-treatment layer 15. The silicon nitride layer formed in the peripheral end portion of the single crystal silicon layer 14 has an insulating property, and has a function of preventing leakage current from flowing at an end portion of the single crystal silicon layer 14. In addition, the silicon nitride layer has resistance to oxidation, and can prevent formation of “bird's beak” due to growth of the oxide film from the end portion between the single crystal silicon layer 14 and the base insulating layer 12.

FIG. 18C illustrates a step of depositing an element-isolation insulating layer 19. The element-isolation insulating layer 19 is formed from a silicon oxide layer by a CVD method using a TEOS as a source gas. The element-isolation insulating layer 19 is formed thick enough to bury the single crystal silicon layer 14.

FIG. 18D illustrates a step of removing the element-isolation insulating layer 19 so as to expose the silicon nitride layer 11. This removing step can be conducted by dry etching or chemical mechanical polishing. The silicon nitride layer 11 serves as an etching stopper. The island-isolation insulating layer 19 is left so as to be buried between the single crystal silicon layers 14. The silicon nitride layer 11 is removed later.

In FIG. 18E, after the single crystal silicon layer 14 is exposed, a gate insulating layer 16, a gate electrode 25, and a sidewall insulating layer 28 are formed to form a first impurity region 18 and a second impurity region 17. The insulating layer 27 is formed from silicon nitride, and is used as a hard mask for etching the gate electrode 25.

In FIG. 19A, an interlayer insulating layer 32 is formed. As the interlayer insulating layer 32, a borophosphosilicate glass (boron phosphorus silicate glass, BPSG) film is formed and planarized by a reflow process. Alternatively, a silicon oxide layer may be formed using TEOS (tetraethoxy silane) as a source gas, and may be planarized by a chemical mechanical polishing process. The insulating layer 27 over the gate electrode 25 serves as an etching stopper in the planarizing process. Contact holes 33 are formed in the interlayer insulating layer 32. The contact holes 33 have a self-aligned structure due to the sidewall insulating layer 28.

Next, as illustrated in FIG. 19B, contact plugs 36 are formed by CVD using tungsten hexafluoride. Further, an insulating layer 41 is formed and openings are formed in positions above the contact plugs 36 to form wirings 38. The wirings 38 are each formed with aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and have a barrier metal such as molybdenum, chromium, or titanium as top and bottom layers.

In this manner, a field-effect transistor including a single crystal silicon layer can be formed on a substrate having an insulating surface. In according to this embodiment mode, by using a large area SOI substrate formed in Embodiment Mode 1, in formation of a circuit pattern such as a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like, by using a large area substrate, a manufacturing process can be conducted at all once, so that productivity can be increased. In addition, an SOI substrate is formed from a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films. The size of each single crystal silicon substrate is set about an integral multiple of one shot size of an exposure apparatus, and yield in manufacturing a semiconductor device such as a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like can be increased.

This embodiment mode can be freely combined with any of the other embodiment modes in this specification.

Embodiment Mode 4

Embodiment Mode 4 will describe an example of a CPU, which is an example of a semiconductor device using an SOI substrate according to the present invention with reference to drawings.

A CPU 3660 shown in FIG. 13 mainly includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 3601, an ALU controller 3602, an instruction decoder 3603, an interrupt controller 3604, a timing controller 3605, a register 3606, a register controller 3607, a bus interface (Bus I/F) 3608, a rewritable ROM 3609, and a ROM interface (ROM I/F) 3620, over a substrate 3600. The ROM 3609 and the ROM interface 3620 may be provided over different chips. Such various circuits included in the CPU 3660 can be formed by using the transistors described in any of Embodiment Modes 2 and 3, or an nMOS transistor, a pMOS transistor, a CMOS transistor, or the like formed by combining the transistors.

Note that the CPU 3660 shown in FIG. 13 is just an example in which the structure of the CPU is simplified, and an actual CPU has a wide variety of structures depending on the uses. Therefore, the structure of the CPU to which the present invention is applied is not limited to that shown in FIG. 13.

An instruction input to the CPU 3660 through the bus interface 3608 is input to the instruction decoder 3603 and decoded therein, and then input to the ALU controller 3602, the interrupt controller 3604, the register controller 3607, and the timing controller 3605.

The ALU controller 3602, the interrupt controller 3604, the register controller 3607, and the timing controller 3605 perform various controls based on the decoded instruction. Specifically, the ALU controller 3602 generates a signal for controlling the drive of the ALU 3601. While the CPU 3660 is executing a program, the interrupt controller 3604 judges an interrupt request from an external input/output device or a peripheral circuit based on its priority or a mask state, and processes the request. The register controller 3607 generates an address of the register 3606, and reads/writes data from/to the register 3606 in accordance with the state of the CPU.

The timing controller 3605 generates a signal for controlling a timing of drive of the ALU 3601, the ALU controller 3602, the instruction decoder 3603, the interrupt controller 3604, and the register controller 3607. For example, the timing controller 3605 is provided with an internal clock generator for generating an internal clock signal CLK2 (3622) based on a reference clock signal CLK1 (3621), and supplies the internal clock signal CLK2 to the above various circuits.

This embodiment mode has described the example in which the semiconductor device is applied to a CPU; but this example is not limiting and the semiconductor device obtained in the above embodiment modes can be applied to a pixel portion, a driver circuit, and the like of display devices including an organic light-emitting element, an inorganic light-emitting element, a liquid crystal display element or the like. Further, a camera such as a digital camera, an audio reproducing device such as a car audio, a laptop personal computer, a game console, a portable information terminal (a cellular phone, a portable game machine and the like), an image reproducing device provided with a recording medium, such as a home game console, and the like can be manufactured by applying the present invention.

The semiconductor device in this embodiment mode is formed using the SOI substrate according to the present invention. Therefore, the semiconductor device can be formed with high productivity and cost reduction can be achieved.

This embodiment mode can be freely combined with any of the other embodiment modes in this specification.

Embodiment Mode 5

In this embodiment mode, one example of a usage mode of the semiconductor device formed using an SOI substrate according to the present invention will be described. Specifically, an application example of a semiconductor device to/from which data can be input/output without contact will be described below with reference to drawings. The semiconductor device to/from which data can be input/output without contact is also called an RFID tag, an ID tag, an IC tag, an IC chip, an RF tag, a wireless tag, an electronic tag, or a wireless chip depending on the usage mode.

One example of a top structure of a semiconductor device described in this embodiment mode is described with reference to FIG. 14A. A semiconductor device 2180 shown in FIG. 14A includes an integrated circuit 2131 including a plurality of elements such as transistors for forming a memory portion and a logic portion, and a conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna. The conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna is electrically connected to the integrated circuit 2131. The transistor described in any of Embodiment Modes 2 and 3 can be applied to the integrated circuit 2131.

Schematic cross-sectional views of FIG. 14A are shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C. The conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna may be provided above the elements for forming the memory portion and the logic portion; for example, the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna can be provided above the integrated circuit 2131 including the transistors in the above embodiment modes with an insulating layer 2130 interposed therebetween (FIG. 14B). Alternatively, the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna may be provided separately over a substrate 2133 and then the substrate 2133 and the integrated circuit 2131 may be attached to each other so as to sandwich the conductive layer 2132 therebetween (FIG. 14C). An example in which a conductive layer 2136 provided over the insulating layer 2130 and the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna are electrically connected to each other with conductive particles 2134 contained in an adhesive resin 2135 is shown in FIG. 14C.

Note that, although the example in which the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna is provided in the shape of a coil and either an electromagnetic induction method or an electromagnetic coupling method is employed is described in this embodiment mode, the semiconductor device of the present invention is not limited thereto, and a microwave method may be employed as well. In the case of a microwave method, the shape of the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna may be decided as appropriate depending on the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave.

For example, when the microwave method (e.g., with an UHF band (in the range of 860 to 960 MHz), a frequency band of 2.45 GHz, or the like) is employed as the signal transmission method of the semiconductor device 2180, the shape such as the length of the conductive layer which serves as an antenna may be set as appropriate in consideration of the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave used in sending a signal. For example, the conductive layer which serves as an antenna can be formed into the shape of a line (e.g., a dipole antenna (FIG. 15A)), into the flat shape (e.g., a patch antenna (FIG. 15B)), into the shape of a ribbon (FIGS. 15C and 15D), or the like. Further, the shape of the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna is not limited to a line, and the conductive layer may have a curved shape, a serpentine curved shape or in a shape combining them may be provided as well in consideration of the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave.

The conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna is formed of a conductive material by a CVD method, a sputtering method, a printing method such as a screen printing method or a gravure printing method, a droplet discharging method, a dispenser method, a plating method, or the like. As the conductive material, any of metal elements such as aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), silver (Ag), copper (Cu), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), and the like, or an alloy material or a compound material including any of the above metal elements as its main component is used, and the conductive layer 2132 employs a single layer structure or a stacked-layer structure.

For example, when the conductive layer 2132 which serves as an antenna is formed by a screen printing method, it can be provided by selectively printing a conductive paste in which conductive particles with a grain diameter of several nm to several tens of μm are dispersed in an organic resin. As the conductive particle, at least one of metal particles such as silver (Ag), gold (Ag), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), and the like; fine particles of silver halide; or dispersive nanoparticles of such materials can be used. Further, as the organic resin included in the conductive paste, one or more of organic resins which function as a binder, a solvent, a dispersing agent, and a coating material of metal particles can be used. Typically, an organic resin such as an epoxy resin and a silicone resin can be given as an example. Further, in forming the conductive layer, it is preferable to bake the conductive paste after providing it. For example, in the case of using fine particles (e.g., with a grain diameter of 1 to 100 nm, inclusive) containing silver as its main component as a material of the conductive paste, the conductive layer can be formed by baking the conductive paste at temperatures in the range of from 150 to 300° C. to harden it. Alternatively, fine particles containing solder or lead-free solder as its main component may be used. In this case, fine particles with a grain diameter of less than or equal to 20 μm are preferably used. Solder and lead-free solder have the advantage of low cost.

The semiconductor device according to this embodiment mode is formed using the SOI substrate according to the present invention. Therefore, the semiconductor device can be formed with high productivity and reduction of manufacturing cost can be achieved. Further, as in this embodiment mode, the semiconductor device of this embodiment mode can be applied to manufacture of compact semiconductor devices which can input and output data wirelessly.

Next, an operation example of the semiconductor device according to this embodiment mode is described.

The semiconductor device 2180 has a function of exchanging data without contact, and includes a high-frequency circuit 81, a power source circuit 82, a reset circuit 83, a clock generating circuit 84, a data demodulating circuit 85, a data modulating circuit 86, a controlling circuit 87 for controlling other circuits, a memory circuit 88, and an antenna 89 (FIG. 16A). The high-frequency circuit 81 receives a signal from the antenna 89 and then outputs a signal received from the data modulating circuit 86 through the antenna 89. The power source circuit 82 generates a power source potential from a received signal. The reset circuit 83 generates a reset signal. The clock generating circuit 84 generates various clock signals based on a received signal input from the antenna 89. The data demodulating circuit 85 demodulates a received signal and outputs it to the controlling circuit 87. The data modulating circuit 86 modulates a signal received from the controlling circuit 87. As the controlling circuit 87, for example, a code extracting circuit 91, a code judging circuit 92, a CRC judging circuit 93, and an output unit circuit 94 are provided. Note that the code extracting circuit 91 extracts each of a plurality of codes included in an instruction sent to the controlling circuit 87. The code judging circuit 92 judges the content of the instruction by comparing each extracted code with a reference code. The CRC judging circuit 93 detects whether or not there is a transmission error or the like based on a judged code. In FIG. 16A, in addition to the controlling circuit 87, the high-frequency circuit 81 and the power source circuit 82 which are analog circuits are included.

Next, one example of an operation of the aforementioned semiconductor device is described. First, a wireless signal is received by the antenna 89 and then sent to the power source circuit 82 through the high-frequency circuit 81, so that a high power source potential (hereinafter referred to as VDD) is generated. VDD is supplied to circuits in the semiconductor device 2180. A signal sent to the data demodulating circuit 85 through the high-frequency circuit 81 is demodulated (hereinafter this signal is called a demodulated signal). Moreover, signals passed through the reset circuit 83 and the clock generating circuit 84 through the high-frequency circuit 81, and the demodulated signal are sent to the controlling circuit 87. The signals sent to the controlling circuit 87 are analyzed by the code extracting circuit 91, the code judging circuit 92, the CRC judging circuit 93, and the like. Then, based on the analyzed signals, information of the semiconductor device stored in the memory circuit 88 is output. The output information of the semiconductor device is encoded through the output unit circuit 94. Further, the encoded information of the semiconductor device 2180 passes through the data modulating circuit 86 and then is sent from the antenna 89 as a wireless signal. Note that a low power source potential (hereinafter called VSS) is common in the plurality of circuits included in the semiconductor device 2180 and GND can be used as VSS.

In this manner, by sending a signal from a communication unit (e.g., a reader/writer or a unit having a function of a reader or a writer) to the semiconductor device 2180 and receiving a signal sent from the semiconductor device 2180 by the reader/writer, data of the semiconductor device can be read.

Further, in the semiconductor device 2180, a power source voltage may be supplied to each circuit by electromagnetic waves without providing a power source (a battery), or a power source (battery) may be provided so that a power source voltage is supplied to each circuit by both electromagnetic waves and the power source (battery).

Next, one example of usage modes of the semiconductor device to/from which data can be input/output without contact is described. The side surface of a mobile terminal including a display portion 3210 is provided with a communication unit 3200, and the side face of a product 3220 is provided with a semiconductor device 3230 (FIG. 16B). Note that the communication unit 3200 has a function of reading and transmitting a signal like a reader/writer, or has only a function of reading a signal or transmitting a signal. When the communication unit 3200 is held over the semiconductor device 3230 included in the product 3220, the display portion 3210 displays information on the product, such as a row material, a place of origin, an inspection result for each production step, a history of distribution process, description of the product, or the like. Further, while a product 3260 is transferred by a conveyer belt, the product 3260 can be inspected by using a communication unit 3240 and a semiconductor device 3250 provided for the product 3260 (FIG. 16C). As the semiconductor devices 3230 and 3250, the aforementioned semiconductor device 2180 can be applied. In this manner, by using the semiconductor device according to the present invention for the system, information can be obtained easily and higher performance and a high added value are achieved. Further, since reduction in cost for manufacturing semiconductor devices can be achieved, a system for inspection of products, or the like can be also conducted at low cost.

Note that an applicable range of the semiconductor device according to the present invention is wide, in addition to the above, and the semiconductor device can be applied to any product as long as it clarifies information of an object, such as the history thereof, without contact and is useful for production, management, or the like. For example, the semiconductor device can be provided for bills, coins, securities, certificates, bearer bonds, packing containers, books, recording media, personal belongings, vehicles, food, clothing, health products, commodities, medicine, electronic devices, and the like. Examples of them are described with reference to FIGS. 17A to 17H.

The bills and coins are money distributed in the market, and include one valid in a certain area (a cash voucher), memorial coins, and the like. The securities refer to checks, certificates, promissory notes, and the like (FIG. 17A). The certificates refer to driver's licenses, certificates of residence, and the like (FIG. 17B). The bearer bonds refer to stamps, rice coupons, various gift certificates, and the like (FIG. 17C). The packing containers refer to wrapping paper for food containers and the like, plastic bottles, and the like (FIG. 17D). The books refer to hardbacks, paperbacks, and the like (FIG. 17E). The recording media refer to DVD software, video tapes, and the like (FIG. 17F). The vehicles refer to wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, ships, and the like (FIG. 17G). The personal belongings refer to bags, glasses, and the like (FIG. 17H). The food refers to food articles, drink, and the like. The clothing refers to clothes, footwear, and the like. The health products refer to medical instruments, health instruments, and the like. The commodities refer to furniture, lighting equipment, and the like. The medicine refers to medical products, pesticides, and the like. The electronic devices refer to liquid crystal display devices, EL display devices, television devices (TV sets and flat-panel TV sets), cellular phones, and the like.

Forgery can be prevented by providing the semiconductor device 2180 for bills, coins, securities, certificates, bearer bonds, or the like. Further, the efficiency of an inspection system, a system used in a rental shop, or the like can be improved by providing the semiconductor device 2180 for packing containers, books, recording media, personal belongings, food, commodities, electronic devices, or the like. Forgery or theft can be prevented by providing the semiconductor device 2180 for vehicles, health products, medicine, or the like; and in the case of the medicine, medicine can be prevented from being taken mistakenly. The semiconductor device 2180 can be attached to the surface or embedded in the object. For example, in the case of a book, the semiconductor device 2180 may be embedded in paper; and in the case of a package made of an organic resin, the semiconductor device 2180 may be embedded in the organic resin.

As described above, the efficiency of an inspection system, a system used in a rental shop, or the like can be improved by providing the semiconductor device for packing containers, recording media, personal belonging, food, clothing, commodities, electronic devices, or the like. Further, by providing the semiconductor device for the vehicles or the like, forgery or theft thereof can be prevented. Further, by implanting the semiconductor device in a creature such as an animal, an individual creature can be easily identified. For example, by implanting/attaching the semiconductor device with a sensor into a creature such as livestock, its health condition such as a current body temperature as well as its birth year, sex, breed, or the like can be easily managed.

This embodiment mode can be freely combined with any of the other embodiment modes in this specification.

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application Serial No. 2007-079762 filed with Japan Patent Office on Mar. 26, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

-   10: substrate -   11: silicon nitride layer -   12: base insulating layer -   12 a: insulating layer -   12 b: insulating layer -   13: silicon oxide layer -   14: single crystal silicon layer -   15: nitriding-treatment layer -   16: gate insulating layer -   17: impurity region -   18: impurity region -   19: element-isolation insulating layer -   25: gate electrode -   27: insulating layer -   28: sidewall insulating layer -   32: interlayer insulating layer -   33: contact hole -   36: contact plug -   38: wiring -   41: insulating layer -   81: high-frequency circuit -   82: power source circuit -   83: reset circuit -   84: clock generating circuit -   85: data demodulating circuit -   86: data modulating circuit -   87: controlling circuit -   88: memory circuit -   89: antenna -   91: code extracting circuit -   92: code judging circuit -   93: CRC judging circuit -   94: output unit circuit -   100: SOI substrate -   101: single crystal silicon substrate -   102: single crystal silicon substrate -   104: hydrogen ion -   106: embrittlement layer -   108: single crystal silicon layer -   110: single crystal silicon thin film -   120: insulating layer -   130: stacked body -   150: substrate -   200: first exposure range -   202: second exposure range -   204: the third exposure range -   206: fourth exposure range -   800: substrate -   802: insulating layer -   804: insulating layer -   806: single crystal silicon layer -   808: single crystal silicon layer -   810: gate insulating layer -   812: conductive layer -   814: conductive layer -   816: gate electrode -   817: insulating layer -   820: sidewall insulating layer -   830: channel forming region -   831: impurity region -   832: low concentration impurity region -   834: high concentration impurity region -   835: silicide region -   840; channel forming region -   841: impurity region -   842: low concentration impurity region -   844: high concentration impurity region -   845: silicide region -   850: transistor -   860: transistor -   870: insulating layer -   872: conductive layer -   1010: object -   1080: plasma processing apparatus -   1082: dielectric plate -   1084: gas supplying portion -   1086: exhaust port -   1088: support -   1090: temperature controller -   1092: high-frequency wave supply portion -   1094: plasma -   1098: antenna -   2130: insulating layer -   2131: integrated circuit -   2132: conductive layer -   2133: substrate -   2134: conductive particle -   2135: resin -   2136: conductive layer -   2180: semiconductor device -   3200: communication unit -   3210: display portion -   3220: article -   3230: semiconductor device -   3240: communication unit -   3250: semiconductor device -   3260: product -   3600: substrate -   3601: arithmetic logic unit -   3602: ALU controller -   3603: instruction decoder -   3604: interrupt controller -   3605: timing controller -   3606: register -   3707: register controller -   3608: bus interface -   3609: ROM -   3620: ROM interface -   3660: CPU 

1. A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising the steps of: (A) cutting a first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus; (B) forming an insulating layer on one surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the second single crystal substrate; and (C) bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and thereby forming a single crystal silicon thin film over the substrate having an insulating surface.
 2. A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising the steps of: (A) cutting a first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate so as to satisfy one of the following expressions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X; 0.9X<Y<1.1X; 0.99X<Y<1.01X; and 0.999X<Y<1.001X, wherein a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and a size of the second single crystal silicon substrate is Y; (B) forming an insulating layer on one surface of the second single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the second single crystal substrate; and (C) bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and thereby forming a single crystal silicon thin film over the substrate having an insulating surface.
 3. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 1, wherein the step (A) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and wherein the step (B) and the step (C) are repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.
 4. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 2, wherein the step (A) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and wherein the step (B) and the step (C) are repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.
 5. A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising the steps of: (A) forming an insulating layer on one surface of a first single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the first single crystal silicon substrate; (B) cutting the first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate which is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus; and (C) bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and thereby forming a single crystal silicon thin film over the substrate having an insulating surface.
 6. A manufacturing method of an SOI substrate, comprising the steps of: (A) forming an insulating layer on one surface of a first single crystal silicon substrate, and forming an embrittlement layer in the first single crystal silicon substrate; (B) cutting the first single crystal silicon substrate to form a second single crystal silicon substrate so as to satisfy one of the following expressions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X; 0.9X<Y<1.1X; 0.99X<Y<1.01X; and 0.999X<Y<1.001X, wherein a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and a size of the second single crystal silicon substrate is Y; (C) bonding a substrate having an insulating surface and the second single crystal silicon substrate with the insulating layer therebetween, and conducting heat treatment to separate the second single crystal silicon substrate along the embrittlement layer, and thereby forming a single crystal silicon thin film over the substrate having an insulating surface.
 7. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 5, wherein the step (B) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and wherein the step (C) is repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.
 8. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 6, wherein the step (B) is repeated to form a plurality of the second single crystal silicon substrates, and wherein the step (C) is repeated to the one substrate having an insulating surface to form a plurality of the single crystal silicon thin films on the substrate having an insulating surface.
 9. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 1, wherein the substrate having an insulating surface is a glass substrate.
 10. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 2, wherein the substrate having an insulating surface is a glass substrate.
 11. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 5, wherein the substrate having an insulating surface is a glass substrate.
 12. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 6, wherein the substrate having an insulating surface is a glass substrate.
 13. An SOI substrate comprising; a base substrate; and a plurality of single crystal silicon thin films formed on the base substrate with an insulating layer therebetween.
 14. The SOI substrate according to claim 13, wherein a size of each one of the plurality of single crystal silicon thin films is n (n is an optional positive integer, n≧1) times as large as a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus.
 15. The SOI substrate according to claim 13, wherein a size of each of the plurality of single crystal silicon thin films satisfies one of the following expressions: 0.8X<Y<1.2X; 0.9X<Y<1.1X; 0.99X<Y<1.01X; and 0.999X<Y<1.001X, wherein a size of one shot of an exposure apparatus is X and a size of the second single crystal silicon substrate is Y.
 16. The manufacturing method of an SOI substrate according to claim 15, wherein the substrate having an insulating surface is a glass substrate. 